Pierre Borel Bourgueil Clos de la Pavée - 750ml

Pierre Borel Bourgueil Clos de la Pavée 2022 is produced from a two-hectare parcel of old-vine Cabernet Franc situated in the heart of the Bourgueil appellation in France's Loire Valley. The Clos de la Pavée is a true clos — a historically enclosed vineyard — planted in deep gravel soils that distinguish it markedly from the clay and limestone more commonly found throughout the surrounding village. This gravel composition drains rapidly and retains heat through the day, encouraging a slower, more measured ripening of the Cabernet Franc than neighboring parcels experience, with harvest extending well into October as a result. Pierre Borel has farmed the site organically since 2006.

The 2022 represents a departure from Borel's earlier approach, employing a shorter maceration of the Cabernet Franc before fermentation and aging entirely in stainless steel tank rather than barrel. This tank-only élevage preserves the wine's primary fruit character and the cool, gravel-driven freshness of the vintage without the integration of wood-derived compounds. Fermentation proceeds without sulfur additions, with a minimal and carefully timed sulfur addition made once after racking — a practice Borel applies with deliberate restraint to protect the wine's natural character while ensuring its stability.

The palate reflects both the gravel terroir and the tank-raised, shorter maceration approach — fresh red fruit, cassis, and a violet-tinged floral note that Cabernet Franc in the Loire expresses with particular clarity. The tannins are fine and present without dominance, and the wine carries a linear, cool-climate acidity that gives it structure and length. The finish is clean and fruit-forward, closing on a faint mineral and graphite note that is characteristic of deep gravel-grown Loire Cabernet Franc.